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Healthy, somewhat young, consistent PACs at 33% burden rate
I’m a 38yo female, relatively fit and I have PACs that are consistently at a burden rate of around 33%, measured twice last year and once this year. My heart looks fine and I have no other issues.
My doctor might recommend an ablation because of the high frequency and consistency of my PACs. I’m wondering if anyone had insight, recommendations or if they were in the same situation and got the ablation- what are their thoughts after?
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PACs are common, but not when the burden approaches 10%. You're higher. They can come on as a result of a failed catheter ablation, signalling the onset of atrial fibrillation later, maybe months later. AF can bring on PACs or come from them. So, while most people have the odd PAC, as their number rises they become more intrusive and problematic.
Yes, a catheter ablation in the right hands, experienced and skilled hands, can solve the problem of too many PACs. That you are largely asymptomatic, and that your heart's vessels show no enlargement or other unwanted morphology suggests that you have no hypertension or collagen deposition and fibrosis in your substrate (meaning wall thickening and loss of flexibility in the underlying muscle tissues). So you're ahead of the game in that respect. However, arrhythmias tend to be progressive in nature; certainly AF is, and as I said early, AF and PACs are kissin' cousins. My point is that, with the high burden you have been formally given, you should consider a mechanical intervention like catheter ablation. Just do your homework first and interview at least two really good EPs....please....if possible with your time and resources.